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An American Family History

Esther Estey Balch

A yeoman was a man who owned and cultivated a small farm. He belonged to the class below the gentry or land owners. A husbandman was a free tenant farmer. The social status of a husbandman was below that of a yeoman.

The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763. The British and French were fighting over claim to the territory between the Appalachians and the Mississippi.

Various spellings of Estey
Easte, Este, Estee, Estes, Estey, Esty

Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire was settled after 1736 and was a fort protecting Massachusetts during the French and Indian Wars. It was called Upper Ashuelot. When New Hampshire separated from Massachusetts in 1741 it became Keene, New Hampshire. During King George's War, the village was attacked and burned.

Esther Estey Balch was born on June 29, 1741 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Aaron Estey and Esther Richards.

She married cordwainer and yeoman, David Balch, on November 12, 1761 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were John Balch and Rebecca Smith. He was born on January 04, 1740/41 in Topsfield. David was a soldier in the French and Indian War in 1758.

Esther and David's children were Esther Balch (1762), William Henry Balch (1764), Lydia Balch Peabody (1765), Israel Balch (1768), David Balch (1771), and Daniel Balch (1783). 

David was in Captain Joseph Gould's Company who served in the American Revolution.

They moved to Keene, New Hampshire in 1789. Esther died in Keene, New Hampshire.

After her death, David married Mary Clark on March 6, 1783. David died on July 31, 1801 in Keene.

A cordwainer (or cordwinder) made shoes from fine, soft leather. There was a distinction between a cordwainer, who made shoes, and a cobbler who repaired them.

cordwainer
Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.
Children of Aaron Estey
& Esther Richards
  • Isaac Estey
  • Aaron Estey
  • Hannah Estey Towne
  • Mary Estey Dwinnell
  • Isaac Estey
  • Abigail Estey
  • Esther Estey
  • William Estey
  • Daniel Estey
  • Esther Estey Balch
  • Aaron Estey
  • William Estey
    		•
         
     
    The Essex Antiquarian
    by Sidney Perley, 1902
    		  
     

    David Balch, born in Topsfield Jan. 4, 1740-1. He was a cordwainer and yeoman, and lived in Topsfield until 1789, when he removed to Keene, N. H. He married, first, Esther Estey Nov. 12, 1761; and second, Mary Clark March 6, 1783; and died in Keene July 31, 1801. He was a soldier in the French and Indian war of 1758.

    Children:
    I. Esther
    II. William Henry; yeoman; lived in Keene, N. H., and Madison county, N.Y.; m. Mehitable Townsend: had eleven children; and was living in 1830.
    III. Lydia, b. in 1765: m. John Peabody, jr., of Topsfield March 6, 1781.
    IV. David, b. Sept. I, 1771; yeoman; lived in Keene; m. Abigail Wells; had seven children ; and d. Sept. 8,1835.
    V. Daniel, b. March 6, 1783; and perhaps d. in Danvers.

    		 

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com